Virgin London Marathon 2011 First Timers

Hi Nikki

am also running for macmillan and furthest I have ran is 12k so in the same boat as you !

its all about steady slow progress , gradually building the miles up each week with a couple of cross training sessions thrown in each week as well and we should be fine !!! good luck with the training .

Kate - hope you find a plan that suits you , as others have said i think its best if you find one and just tweak it suit you . i would recommend the book Im reading which is not only a training plan but a source of inspiration as well as its about normal people just getting round the marathon and completeing it .

link for it is in my previous post in this thread .

Hi All!

First time Marathon for me too! Done a couple of halfs and so thought go for it to do a full Marathon next year, I had already signed up for Edinburgh but will opt out of that now I am in London as not sure I will do another one!  Like M-J I wish I had taken it up sooner as only been running for a year (36 now!)

This looks like a decent forum of people around the same level so sure to be lots of support flying around!

I'm injured at the minute and feel like I'm getting lazy!  Knees went after the GSR and just got back running a couple of weeks ago and done my calf in (too much too soon I guess!)

Anyway, I am running for Clic Sargent and looking forward to the challenge of raising a tonne of money for them as I can only begin to imagine what these poor kids go through, being a father myself. Well done to everyone else raising money for their charities as well.

 Not started to think about training plans yet but guess will build up slow and gradual and try to keep injury free, time is on my side for a change so will decide on one early in the New Year.

 See you all around and all the best!

Miggito

Hi all,

I got a charity place this year for HEART UK.  I have run one marathon which was the Edinbugh marathon earlier this year.  I'm really excited about London but terrified at the same time.  

I would definately recommend doing a few events in the lead up as it helped me keep motivated.

Is anyone with a running club.  I trained on my own for the last one but struggled a bit, bored my hubbie stupid with running talk.

Good luck with the training everyone.

Hi  -  Can I join your thread ?

 First time London Marathon for me - obtained Charity place - running for Acorns Hospice.

I have done 1 marathon before ( 11 years ago, & struggled ) when I was 51 - now 62 ( knees & back in a worse state !! )

 But I have done all 30 Great North Runs ( 1981 - 2010 )

I am in a running club however & do compete on a regular basis ( 5k,10k, 1/2 mara ). But need to 'step up a big gear' for next April.

Need also to consider best options for accomodation etc. for a 2 night stay in London area.

Good for you Claire - I did the Edinburgh half and knew a few people running the Marathon, stayed around to cheer them on but it was hot!!! I'm thinking of joinging a club too as I always run on my own due to work / family commitments but these will have to change I guess if I'm upping my training!

Nick - you're an inspiration - all GNRs is quite an achievement!!! I guess it's true in that you're only as young as you feel and am sure the younger ones on here will take encouragement from hearing about your achievements (I certainly do - not that I consider myself that young anymore!)

 Miggito

thanks for that Miggito

GNR is on 'my own patch' ( I only live about 15 miles away ) so logistically easier to enter & take part in for me.  - and it is only 1/2 mara

 VLM is going to be a big challenge to all of us -- I know I will value ( & need )  all your 'encouragements' just as much through the next 6 months

recommend PARKRUN to anybody

 freeto enter, no commitment, do not have to be a Club Runner, and it's good fun

 hopefully one nearby for you

http://www.parkrun.com/home.aspx

Felt good when I woke up this morning so went out for a cheeky wee 30 minute run  

Feel a twinge in my calf again though but not too bad so hopefully that is me on the mend, wont run again until Saturday. It actually feels quite good having this much time to prepare yourself as never had the luxury before my last half and had to abandon my Kilomathon plans due to injury!

Little N - sorry I can't help you but good luck, I'm sure there will be plenty nearby! 

Parkrun - I had seen this before and looks a great idea but near me they were always on a Saturday (when I do long run) so couldn't get involved unfortunately. Great idea to get more people involved though.

I actually looked at the VLM website for the first time last night (didn't want to tempt fate before I got in!) and got to say - looks very professional! Great to think I will be doing it next year!  

Hi all!

had some good news today. My best buddie also got a place and we will be running together. Thank god for that!! I was getting a bit stressed about doing it on my own. I did my fastest 3 miles so far yesterday at 6am and it was freezing but I really enjoyed it. Off out again tomorrow morning

Kate

x

Miggito wrote (see)

Parkrun - I had seen this before and looks a great idea but near me they were always on a Saturday (when I do long run) so couldn't get involved unfortunately. Great idea to get more people involved though

Yeh Miggito, all Parkruns start at 9.00 am round the whole country ( 9.30 I think in Scotland  )

It would mean yoy swapping days for long Run - or trying the occasional Saturday just to alternate your training a bit ?  Good luck whatever

Good to see so many of you one here.  I am on holiday in Turkey and so my running is taking a lie down on a sunbed !  Been out once this week so feeling a bit guilty. 

I've neve tried a Parkrun, I don't think there are any near me (North Herts) but it sounds like a great idea.

Anyway - I'm off to do some more lounging

katieloo wrote (see)

I was getting a bit stressed about doing it on my own.

Don't worry Kate, you wont be on your own - there's another 30000 folk doing it too!

Only joking, glad you're mate got in too and good to see I'm not the only nutter that goes out at 6am in the morning!

Enjoy your holiday Claire, I'm off at the end of next week to Spain, won't be doing much running either!

 Hope we're all not talking like this next April, lol   

Hi All,

Can I join in too? I didn't get a ballot place but closed my eyes and clicked 'send' accepting a charity place! Bit nervous now about running it and raising the money but my children have got very excited about it all and are very keen to help! 

I have done 2 GNR's and the kilomathon before but haven't run for ages and seem to have got into a bit of a 'I'm too tired / still got a bit of a cold' sort of rut. 

It will be great to be hearing how everyone's doing in the  training and as the excitement builds as it gets closer as it seems so far away at the moment.

Wendy

Hi Wendy

Welcome  i know what you mean about the Cantbearsed Syndrome !!

Im finding at the moment that keeping a record of your runs is a way of being able to motivate myself as i keep wanting to do more once you have seen your weekly milege go up , Im not sure if i can mention it on this site but its worth setting up an account on fetcheveryone.com

can log all your training on there and its very simple to use . also try the book The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer . Is very good and something I read in there may help the CantbeArsed Syndrome is next time you feel yourself say " im tired/dont feel well/weather is bad " as an excuse not to run , just add on the end " but it does not matter " so you  have  a positive attitude and nothing matters as long as you get out and do the run . Im sticking with their traning plan as well which is 4 runs a week with one of them being a Long Slow Run ,

Enjoy your holiday Claire and yours when you go Miggito , just remember to take your runniing trainers !

Hi ,

Can i join please,  I have applied for the last five years and im finaly in on my sixth attempt.

I would realy like to be part of your group as I  have never ran this distance before and would love to be part of a forum like yours... (usually im ust a forum reader, not a poster so im a little nervous)

Thanks

Kellyxx